Did you know that in the mid 1970s, California's "state rock" was evaluated and researchers found out that it was a potential cancer cause?

And that was all linked back to asbestos exposure. This material, once praised as the 'wonder fiber', was the reason why many workers fell sick and got killed, because they inhaled the microscopic toxic dust in asbestos plants, mines, shipyards, etc. during the course of their regular work.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) conducted studies and when the results became official, the use of asbestos was restricted subsequently. Asbestos is a mineral with outstanding characteristics. For instance, it is very resistant to heat and fire.
Before the public learned about the associated potential hazard, asbestos was mixed into a variety of different products, such as asbestos shingles, asbestos floor tiles, roofing, asbestos siding, ductwork and many other items. When we learned about the health risk of being exposed to asbestos, we also realized that over 25 million homes in the United States had opened their doors to an unwanted visitor: the invisible asbestos dust, that may or may not be lingering in the air in our around houses that had asbestos containing materials installed.

As mentioned, rules and regulations pertaining to the use of asbestos were put forth by the government bodies in the 70s. Further to that, in 1986, the EPA suggested to gradually phase out all asbestos containing materials over the course of 10 years. However, that really didn't help the people who were already living in houses where they may be exposed to the material. And for obvious reasons, many of them got very nervous. As a result, the real estate market as well as lenders reacted to the increased awareness of asbestos exposure and abruptly avoided deals involving properties that were associated with asbestos hazards. A spokesman of a California based asbestos removal service pointed out: "It is becoming a liability issue." He continued: "If you expose future home owners to a known hazard or if you sell a property without full disclosure, you are setting yourself up for lawsuits."

But how can a person determine whether or not his home might contain asbestos? And what is he supposed to do, if in fact it turns out that there might be a problem?

As a matter of fact, identifying asbestos is not as difficult as you may think. Furthermore, even if you find out that there is a problem with asbestos exposure, the issue can be addressed quickly and adequately.

Let's first have a look at the health risks that are being associated with asbestos exposure. When we think about high risk groups, asbestos workers and their families are the ones that rank very high. People in the thousands contracted severe and fatal health problems, from problems with breathing, over asbestosis - a chronic inflammation that causes scarring of the lung tissue - to lung cancer and mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that usually originates in the lung lining but can also affect a number of other organs.
Interestingly enough and considering that also many other individuals, who are not in occupational contact with the material, might be at risk, too, we only have very little data regarding incidental exposure in residential properties. However, this does not mean that there is no risk. It just means that research so far zeroed in on asbestos workers and their families. One reason might be that is it rather difficult to establish data in a country as big as the United States and secondly, problems caused by exposure to asbestos, usually not surface before 30 - 40 years after the initial contact to the material. With that being said, a growing number of experts in the field raised their concerns about prolonged low-level asbestos exposure in residential homes. There is no safe exposure to asbestos, according to Lee Thomas, a former administrator of the EPA.

Which triggers another question: must asbestos be removed all the time? Having asbestos containing materials in you home does not necessarily mean that you have to remove them, because not all asbestos is dangerous.
As we learned, there are millions of homes in the United States, but we know that only a small fraction actually contains the toxic asbestos fibers that get airborne. A spokesman of the Research Triangle Institute, which is a non-profit and independent organization studying the effects of exposure to asbestos, stated that the degree of potential hazard correlates with the condition of the asbestos containing material, how frequently people actually access the room where it is located, and the amount of air that moves through the room.

It is important to note, that both the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commision strongly advised not to do anything with the asbestos, unless it is friable. Friable means, that the material crumbles easily under only little amount of pressure and is therefore likely to get airborne. If the asbestos materials are in good shape, it is recommended to "seal them up". This can be done by hiring an asbestos abatement company who will then add a layer of protection on top to the affected site. In other words, the asbestos contractor applies an EPA approved coating of heat-resistant sealant which forms into a barrier to seal up the asbestos lying underneath.
But there is a catch. The fact of the matter is, encapsulating the material is pretty much as expensive as removing asbestos and further to that, may make a later asbestos removal even more difficult. Pipes and ductwork can be protected from future damage by enclosing them inside walls or 'boxing' around them. The idea behind that approach: if the asbestos product is enclosed, the fibers are less likely to get released into the air. However, if the asbestos is friable and cannot be repaired, it is strongly recommended to have it removed by a licensed asbestos removal company.
The asbestos removal costs can strongly vary from region to region and contractor to contractor. But as a ballpark number, they mostly range from $200 to $400 per hour. A reputable asbestos abatement company will give you a reliable estimate before you have to make a decision.

How and where do I look for asbestos problems in my house?

Asbestos is typically whitish and less commonly we see blue or brown variations.
The color is strongly influenced by the material it was mixed with, things like polymers, asphalt, cement and binders. Specifically, here are a few common places for asbestos occurrences:

All heating system ductwork

In some regions in the country, the majority of ducts are made of asbestos products. Sometimes metal ducts are wrapped into a kind of asbestos containing air cell insulation. It looks somewhat similar to corrugated cardboard. Asbestos sheeting insulation looks like that, too, except for the corrugated part. Also, you might find asbestos taping used on your ductwork. If your ductwork is made of asbestos, you should be alerted, because as the material starts to deteriorate, the toxic fibers get airborne and distributed all throughout the house. In such a case, you should talk to an asbestos removal contractor. Again, the costs for asbestos ductwork removal can strongly vary. Usually, contractors charge anywhere form $12 to $25 per lineal foot, which equates to $1500 to $2000 in a regular sized basement.
In addition to that, of course are the costs for the replacement. If the ducts are wrapped with asbestos tape, it should be removed if it's friable. At the base of the furnace you may find asbestos, too. Or the whole furnace might actually stand on an asbestos pad. You should also look for asbestos cloth, which is usually seen to bridge the furnace to ductwork section. Again, if you see that they are already damaged or if they are sound to receive damage, an asbestos contractor should be hired to encapsulate or remove them.

Plumbing and Asbestos

Some sections of your piping, especially in areas where the pipes connect to the radiators, might be surrounded by asbestos pipe wrap. That wrap might be covered with canvas which usually has a white surface and crumbly texture. I the asbestos pipe wrap contains small holes, it is advisable just to repair it as opposed to removing it entirely. The holes can be caulked and jacketed with glass cloth. You should not use regular duct tape, by the way, as it will come off after a while.

Asbestos and Wiring

Look out for the so called 'old knob-and-tube wires'. It usually has a white coating and is covered by a black fabric. In case you plan on remodeling your house, you should not pull those old wires out but much rather just install new ones.

Fireplaces and Asbestos

If manufactured prior to 1978, artificial fire logs are likely to contain friable asbestos.
Especially the ashes are highly toxic and should e removed immediately. With that being said, the logs do not release any fibers, unless friable asbestos was used during the production process. Also, you may find wood stove gaskets or protection panels with a gray shade, whitish stone. It is recommended to remove or replace such units, if they are already damaged or if they are exposed to a potential damage.

Asbestos in crawl spaces and basement floors

You need to keep in mind that asbestos fibers might have collected on the floor nearby piping or ductwork. Have a trained and licensed asbestos professional clean up the area. It is not recommended to do this asbestos job yourself, because of the risk of inhaling or ingesting the toxic particles. This is important: under no circumstances you should vacuum or sweep asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers are microscopically small, about a thousandth of the thickness of a hair. They will go straight into the vacuum and back into the air.

Asbestos walls and asbestos ceiling

People often wonder about what is being referred to often as "cottage cheese asbestos ceilings". They normally have a rather low percentage of asbestos mixed in, but can occasionally contain up to 40%. It is recommended not to sweep the ceiling or do anything that could potentially loosen it. Unfortunately, asbestos ceiling removal is quite expensive and some asbestos abatement contractors charge up to $30 per square foot.
As for drywall, joint compounds and patching plaster: some of it might contain little amounts of asbestos and therefore you should not scrap of sand them. Especially in older homes we still find blown-in wall insulation that contains asbestos. Since this insulation is encapsulated, it should only be removed if you plan on remodeling.

Asbestos floor tiles

You may be surprised to learn that even recently produced vinyl floor tiles can contain small amounts of asbestos. However, because of the fact that it is ingrained into the product, the material doesn't pose any harm. Asbestos tiles only become a problem when you are renovating. Again, you should not sand or scrap the tiles. In most cases it is fully sufficient to install another layer of non asbestos containing materials on top of the tile.

Asbestos Roofing and Asbestos Siding

Older roofing shingles can contain asbestos cement or asphalt mix. Whereas asphalt asbestos shingles typically don't release fibers easily, asbestos cement shingles do rather easily and therefore you need to be very careful during a remodeling project. You need to make sure that you avoid crumbling or breaking. The same applies to roofing felts and tars as they might contain asbestos, however, they are usually pretty sturdy and only cause a problem if they get damaged.

Getting help with Asbestos

Identifying asbestos sites in your house is relatively easy, as we just learned. But nonetheless, to be on the safe side and also have the air for asbestos contamination tested, you may want to hire a qualified asbestos inspector.

This professional will take a few samples from your property and send it over to an asbestos testing lab. An asbestos lab test costs usually around $50. If you can't find an asbestos inspector close to where you live, you can contact the EPA and ask for asbestos testing laboratories and they can also give you detailed instructions as to obtain and package the sample.

Here's another important point: make sure that the asbestos contractor you hire has a valid state license. Unfortunately, there are some black sheep out there who may sell you services you don't need or don't do a thorough job. Or even worse, provide you with wrong asbestos test results. We also heard of reported cases where home owners found themselves in a situation, where after they had hired an illegitimate asbestos contractor, their asbestos levels were suddenly 3 to 4 times higher than before the job. Of course, cleaning up after such damage can get extremely costly. Therefore, it is very important that you educate yourself and become familiar with all aspects regarding asbestos removal from your home.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call your regional EPA office. You should also try to find out about your asbestos contractors track record and don't be shy in asking for references. And if your state requires asbestos professionals to hold a license, you can easily find out if your contractor is certified. If no licensing is required in your state, then at least try to find out if your asbestos removal company has received an EPA approved training. As always, get a few estimates, not just one.

Lastly, here is a personal recommendation. I am a kidney cancer patient. It is very well possible, that my renal cell carcinoma (cancer of the kidney) was caused by exposure to asbestos, even though I don’t know that conclusively. Therefore, I would not suggest doing any do it yourself asbestos projects on your property, but rather higher a licensed asbestos inspection and removal company. The associated health risks are just not worth taking any risk of getting sick with asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma